Four! More! Years!
Floor Time
/flôr tīm/
noun
the 15-60 minute time period spent laying on the floor in the middle of the work day, typically as a relief from the soul-sucking reality of corporate America.
Lots to celebrate this week! Tuesday marked four years since I hopped off the plane at JFK and moved into my exposed brick-rich Chinatown apartment. And yesterday, I celebrated three years since I brought home Klaus, the goodest of the good eggs. Life in New York has only gotten better each year imo and as a commemoration of my time here, I wanted to share a list of my favorite things so far—a good way for me to reflect on what I’ve experienced, and to get excited about what’s to come.
Food
Favorite Restaurant (casual): Noodle Village
I’m cheating by breaking my favorite restaurant(s) out by scale because it is actually impossible to try to pick a singular favorite restaurant out of alllll the restaurants in New York. My go-to craving is always Noodle Village when I want just really good Cantonese food.
Favorite Restaurant (average): Saigon Social
I love, love Saigon Social. They sadly encountered a fire a while back and were closed for a bit, but I feel like they’ve reopened with a vengeance. The food is the only level of fusion I enjoy, and the quality and creativity of their cocktails will surprise you. The vibe is super low-key and laid back, but it’s nice enough to bring your parents if they’re in town, or to go for a date. Their head chef is also just a bad ass, you can read about her here.
^The COTE spread
Favorite Restaurant (fancy-ish): COTE
You’ll notice a pattern with all my favorite foods being Asian, lol. The first time I came to COTE was in 2019 with my sister—and I remember it having a significant impact on my culinary report card. Since then, I’ve been back two more times, including earlier this week to celebrate my four years, and now twice to Undercote, their swanky, “Last of Us”-esque (in decor) bar. Cocktails will run you $23 a pop (*whistles*), that said they are extremely high quality and beautifully presented. The menu down here is also seasonal and I had myself this guava sour drink while waiting for my friends to arrive. Gamechanger. Food-wise it’s the best KBBQ meat I’ve had in New York (you should trust me because I am not a huge meat eater in general, so when it’s good I’ll tell you!), and their egg souffle remains one of the best in the biz.
Favorite Bar: Reception
Like picking a restaurant, it’s impossible to narrow it down to just one favorite. But, I think I’ll pick Reception because it is such a significant spot for me in terms of conversations that have happened there, early dates with my boyfriend, and I love how different their drinks are (all soju-based—that they infuse in-house). I also love the team of people who run it (and it’s female-owned, love!). The bartenders are always so warm and welcoming and aren’t snooty about menu questions (which I’ve definitely experienced before in New York).
Favorite Dive Bar: Pete’s Candy Store
Pete’s Candy Store is a music venue / dive bar where I had my birthday this past year. The vibe is so, so, chill, and it has all your basic bar needs, while also having awesome seasonal cocktails (there’s this earl grey one they have in the fall that I lust over). It’s just a really *expletive* good bar.
Favorite Pizza: Scarr’s—but now L’Industrie
As you all know, Scarr’s has forever been my favorite pizza in New York. My first apartment was a 5-minute walk away, and Eli and I would go there whenever either of us came back from a trip. It was tradition! But since they changed their storefront and in general got more blown up, it’s been harder to have a good experience there. The line is insanely long, sometimes they just don’t have pies, and the clientele feels less local. So even though I still stand by their pizza being my favorite, I have to say L’Industrie (which is in my current neighb) has reliably become the new go-to. And the quality is just as high.
Favorite Burger: Pastis
I’ve already raved about this ad nauseam.
Sights
Favorite Museum: Museum of the City of New York
Again, so hard to pick a favorite but this is the museum that feels most exclusive to the beautiful city in which we live, so it takes the top spot for me.
Favorite Neighborhood: LES or Gowanus/Cobble Hill
LES is always gonna be #1 because I used to live there and all my favorite establishments and people are there. But Cobble Hill / Gowanus has a very special place in my heart, and remains my favorite neighborhood for a casual weekend wandering day. They have amazing restaurants, AWESOME thrifting, and the atmosphere in general is such a vibe.
Favorite Season: Autumn
There is literally a whole song dedicated to autumn in New York because it is delightful. The parks are stunning, the weather is ideal, and the coat fashion is off the charts. We’re only a week away from Meg Ryan Fall and THANK GOD.
Favorite Workout: Walking in New York
Walking over the Williamsburg bridge on a Saturday morning at 8AM when it’s just the runners and the city is barely awake.
Favorite Spot for People-Watching: Domino Park
Such a great mix of really cute New York families, and extremely irritating intramural beach volleyball players. Obsessed.
Did I miss any favorites? If so, ping me! Happy to talk about the greatest city in the world forever and ever.
Something I Thought of in the Shower
The way Joe Jonas’ team is flubbing this divorce PR, every day for this entire week.
Something Pretty
I went camping last weekend—yes, again. I consider myself a relatively outdoorsy and in-shape person having come from the land of outdoorsiness (i.e. the west coast) and when I tell you we did the hardest hike of my life…9 miles in total with the first 3.5 being a straight uphill rock scramble with 3600 ft elevation gain. I kid you not, the summit is legit called Giant Mountain. It was worth it but did it make me think, “is hiking actually fun?”1 Yes. Yes it did.
Something To Laugh About
Honestly, my entire internet intake this week was about the Joe Jonas/Sophie Turner divorce (I’ve never been a Joe girlie so idgaf about him and…he’s handling this terribly and gives me pick-me energy overall). I stand with my Queen of the North!!! Anyway here are a few gems this week:
This Carpool Karaoke lives rent-free in my brain (I used to quote this all the time by screaming “BECKAY,” accent and all, but no one got it so I stopped…understand me so I can reference this again in public!!) and it’s just a reminder how naturally cool and effortlessly funny Ms. Sophie is—and he’s just Mr. Perfectly Fine.
I could call out ya’ll by name but I won’t—but this is what you look like!
This is just pure joy. Someone take me to the ball game pls.
I spit out my food. Ya’ll are savage with this. THAT’S MY SON!!! THAT’S MY BOY!!!!
See guys San Francisco is so gorge and looks exactly like this.
And finally, happy back-to-school season, kids. What I wouldn’t give to feel that crisp 7AM morning air whistling through the holes of my helmet on an epic bike bus like this 🥹, meanwhile my bestie is beside me, we nailed our multiplication homework, and we have a Friday fun day reading hour to look forward to later this afternoon. Bliss.
Something for Clarice
Hey! This newsletter is free and I intend to keep it that way. That said, if you love it and want to show your appreciation, buy me a coffee :)
Final official weekend of summer, ya’ll! Hope you get that good good Vitamin D, drink a margarita, and do all your remaining summer things because next week it will finally be socially acceptable to binge “Gilmore Girls,” light witchy candles, and lean into Christian Girl Autumn…AT LAST, WE THAW!!!
Til’ next time, PSLs. Your friend,
Clarice
By the way…I’m reading this.
I am so happy that I’m back on my reading kick again—largely because I’m finally just getting some good reads in (whereas at the start of the year…def not the case). This week I read Luster by Raven Leilani, which has been on my WTR forever. It’s about a young Black woman who moves in with her lover and his wife (you heard me) who are both white, and their adopted daughter who is also Black. The story made me feel so uncomfortable and awkward in the most pleasing way. Then, the last 50 pages felt like taking in a perfectly painted portrait. I took a picture of this AMAZING passage but realize it kinda contains spoilers…so I’ll put it at the bottom of this email and don’t scroll all the way if you’re planning to read it.
like damn, bar is on the FLOOR. but also, YES Edie reclaim your POWER.
Don’t have a cow, hiking IS fun, okay?! I love it but not when I’m grossly unprepared for the difficulty of the hike (aka did not pack enough water for both me and Klaus).